Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)

I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter and giving us the benefit of his expertise in these matters. I am aware of the difficulties experienced by the many home owners affected by the pyrite problem I acknowledge the distress it has caused. The issue was first brought to the attention of my Department in mid-2007. Having consulted the Building Regulations Advisory Body, my Department immediately set about taking appropriate action to address the problem. Each county manager and local building control authority was advised on the matter on 16 August 2007 and their co-operation sought in the enforcement of relevant requirements.

Following an intervention by the Department, the National Standards Authority of Ireland, NSAI, published an amended standard recommendation on the use of aggregates as infill for civil engineering and road construction work. The new standard recommendation came into effect on 7 December 2007 and is intended to address the quality standards of new homes and buildings in so far as problems relating to pyrite are concerned. The relevant technical guidance document on the building regulations dealing with site preparation was amended to incorporate the revised NSAI standard recommendation. The building regulations set out the legal requirements for the construction of new buildings, including houses, while the technical guidance documents provide guidance on how to comply with these regulations.

The Department notified local authorities, the Construction Industry Federation, the Irish Home Builders Association and other key stakeholders of the provisions of the amended technical guidance document. In addition, I understand HomeBond, a private company which provides a ten-year structural guarantee for new houses, has included the amended NSAI standard recommendation in the sixth edition of its house-building manual.

The remediation of homes affected by pyrite is a matter for the parties concerned, namely, the building owner, the relevant developer and the builder's insurers. It is essentially a civil matter. I understand that, following lengthy court proceedings in regard to homes affected by pyrite in north Dublin, a final settlement was reached and a trust fund established. Consumer protection in the area of quality construction of new dwellings is a critical issue and I have asked my Department to prioritise the formulation of policy proposals that will enhance compliance with and enforcement of the building regulations generally.

My Department acted promptly when this issue was brought to its attention to inform all key stakeholders and ensure the introduction of revised technical standards to address the issue of pyrite in new construction. I consider these are relevant responses in the light of the Department's responsibilities. The establishment of a task force, as proposed by the Deputy, is not warranted at this point. However, I note the points made by him, particularly in regard to the problem in Canada, which I undertake to examine.

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